Luis chose to share his story not for sympathy, but to encourage others to think carefully about the choices they make and to remind them that no one is beyond redemption.

“Hi, my name is Luis. I am currently pursuing a career as a residential electrician at the Trade School through Students International’s professional electrician training program in Guatemala. I have been working in construction, and in all transparency, my life journey has not been flawless. In the past, I made some serious mistakes that resulted in a four-year prison sentence. But today, I humbly thank

God for granting me a second chance. Some of my story came out while sharing during a devotional in class, and my purpose in sharing this was to testify to the abyss from which our Lord Jesus Christ rescued me.

Despite having gone through an extremely difficult process upon regaining my freedom, I have been able to witness God’s intervention in my life every day. He has made my social reintegration possible. Although there are still people who judge me for my past, I have decided to persevere in a continuous process of transformation, striving to become a better version of myself. I acknowledge that the wrong decisions I made led me to lose my freedom, my job, and my family, leaving me with only the clothes I was wearing.

It is because of my experience that I wanted to share with my classmates at SI; to prevent others from walking down the same path. In youth, we often act without thinking about the consequences of our actions.

Today, five years from being freed from prison, I can affirm that I see the light at the end of the tunnel. God has also blessed me with a son and a wife who support me unconditionally every day. I urge each of my coworkers a

nd anyone who may read this story to reflect on this testimony. May it serve as both a warning and a hope. Even when the outlook seems bleak, let us remember that after the storm, new rays of sunlight always emerge to push us to keep fighting.”

At Students International, stories like Luis’s remind us why discipleship, vocational training, and authentic relationships matter so deeply. Through programs like the electrician training program in Guatemala, students are not only gaining practical skills for employment — they are discovering their calling and the transforming love of Christ.

Thank you for partnering with us as we walk alongside individuals like Luis, empowering them to build brighter futures for themselves, their families, and their communities.